US regional airline Commuteair has extended its contract with United Airlines to continue flying the 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145 until 2028.
The Westlake, Ohio-based regional airline said it had “imposed an extension” on its capacity purchase agreement with United.
Commuteair exclusively operates around 60 ERJ-145s on behalf of United under the United Express brand. According to the Aviation Analytics Company Cirium, almost all jets are around 20 years old.
Regional jets with 50 seater capacity have become increasingly unusual among US airline fleets, with most airlines in recent years rising to regional jets with 75 and 90 seating.
Piedmont Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines, is another prominent operator of the ERJ-145, similar to charter carrier JSX.
Other regional jet types landing in the 50-seat segment include the MHIRJ CRJ200 and CRJ550. Both are widely deployed by US airlines.
Last year, Commuteair began charter operations with one Embraer 170. This holds 76 passengers and shows a potential shift towards larger regional jet operations.
